James Stevens, co-leader of Troutman Pepper Locke’s Financial Services Industry Group, was quoted in the February 3, 2026 Payments Dive article, “Why Some Payments Companies Want To Be Banks.”

Banks can also join payment rails such as RTP and ACH, noted James Stevens, co-leader of the financial services industry group at the law firm Troutman Pepper Locke.

“The reason we’re seeing a spike in new chartering by payment companies and other non-banks is because they want to avail themselves of those special powers that banks have,” Stevens said.